Ducati 900GTS to XR900

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It took more than a second look to register the fact that the bright orange bike standing out from a gaggle of modern Italian motorcycles was actually a Ducati and not a Harley. But it only took a split second to appreciate that this bike was something very special.
It took more than a second look to register the fact that the bright orange bike standing out from a gaggle of modern Italian motorcycles was actually a Ducati and not a Harley. But it only took a split second to appreciate that this bike was something very special.
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Ducati XR900 right side view
Ducati XR900 right side view
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Ducati XR900 left side view
Ducati XR900 left side view
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Peter made the side panels, complete with air scoops, from 2mm sheet aluminum.
Peter made the side panels, complete with air scoops, from 2mm sheet aluminum.
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Peter custom-fabricated the exhaust. The bend under the front cylinder came from a bathroom grab handle.
Peter custom-fabricated the exhaust. The bend under the front cylinder came from a bathroom grab handle.
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Peter made the rear brake lever, which attaches to cables that run under the seat.
Peter made the rear brake lever, which attaches to cables that run under the seat.
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Ducati XR900 gauges
Ducati XR900 gauges
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Ducati XR900 tire
Ducati XR900 tire
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"I've made things all my life, always admired the Harley XR look, so I just had to scratch the itch with what I had at my disposal!" Peter says.
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The mufflers sit tight to the frame and left rear shock thanks to cut-outs on the back side of each pipe.
The mufflers sit tight to the frame and left rear shock thanks to cut-outs on the back side of each pipe.
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All finished, Peter's lovely XR900 weighs in at 436 pounds wet.
All finished, Peter's lovely XR900 weighs in at 436 pounds wet.

Ducati XR900
Claimed Power:
57hp @ 7,700rpm (stock)
Top speed: 121mph (period test)
Engine: 864cc air-cooled OHC 90-degree L-twin with 900SS pistons and twin-spark cylinder heads, 86mm x 74.4mm bore and stroke, 9:1 compression ratio
Weight (w/half tank fuel): 436lb (198kg)

It took more than a second look to register the fact that the bright orange bike standing out from a gaggle of modern Italian motorcycles was actually a Ducati and not a Harley. But it only took a split second to appreciate that this bike was something very special.

Intrigued, I hung around and was lucky enough to meet Peter Koren, the bike’s owner. And when he started to describe how he built the bike himself, from scratch, I was left more than a little impressed. While the Harley-Davidson XR dirt tracker is a cult machine in its own right, favored by the likes of the late, great Evel Knievel and racer Cal Rayborn, Peter’s audacious and unexpected Ducati-based take on the XR works beautifully. You’d think it was a factory machine — but from Bologna or Milwaukee?

Transforming the Ducati 900GTS

“It was an abandoned project based on a 1979 900GTS I’d bought for spares for my 750GT and 900SS,” Peter explains. “But though covered in rust and missing parts, it was, on closer inspection, too good to break. I thought of building a Z-stripe Sport utilizing some parts I already had, but then it sat in the shed for two years while the idea of a flat tracker-style bike came into my head.”

  • Published on Mar 28, 2012
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